Of monsters and men

[Undyne]

Twenty minutes of travel, that felt like two hours to Undyne. Twenty minutes before the settlement came into view among the trees, starting with enormous fields of farmland, and the dirt path evolved into a stone road with buildings on either side. It was a rather chaotic amalgamation but Undyne liked Ambrosia almost immediately.

Jeremy was rolling a joint but didn't get to lighting it when he saw the village that they were entering - the stunned looks on his face hinted at why that was. "Woah", he said simply. "This place looks amazing."

"Doesn't it? I bet that we'll find the others here. Asgore, Toriel, Frisk... Alphys." The leather on her gloves creaked as she balled her fists thinking of her. She had to be here. "Maybe even the Nice Cream guy", she added with a grin.

"Or Mettaton", Jeremy replied while lighting the joint and smiling that smile that Undyne hated. Someone who had given up on his life. "Well, maybe we should ask someone."

"Sure. Pardon, Sir?" she asked, dismounting and with her helmet hanging from her belt to make herself look less threatening. The individual she had addressed, a mansized nutcracker that was somehow able to move and speak, stopped and eyed Undyne from black dots that were his painted-on eyes. "Is this Ambrosia?"

"It is quite indeed, M'lady", the nutcracker replied. The motions of his jaw rising and lowering itself made a very comical contrast to his gentlemanly manner of speech. "If I may be so bold and ask, are you new here?"

"We are. I'm looking for a few friends of ours... ever heard of a man named Asgore? Tall, white-furred, goat horns and ears?"

"Hmm, I must sincerely apologize, but I have to answer your question with a "no". There is no individual to my knowledge that matches this description."

"What about someone named Alphys? She's a short yellow-scaled drake with glasses and socially awkward?"

"I am so sorry, but that question too I cannot answer positively. And Ambrosia, as I am certain your companion and yourself have noticed, is a community of modest size, where most people know one another. I cannot pride myself in knowing everyone who lives here, but individuals as the ones you describe would be quite likely to become noticed. Are you quite certain that they have journeyed to the Tangled Green?"

Undyne sighed and shook her head. "I suppose that a community composed of monsters would be the most likely to recieve them. But I'll give it a last shot... Papyrus and Sans. They're two living skeletons, boith guys. Sans is a little taller than a kid and Papyrus is about as tall as me. Papyrus has likely made an impression if he's come through here. He has quite the ego."

"Hmm, we do have one reanimated skeleton living in Ambrosia but he's a bit withdrawn. Do either of these gentlemen have a gray beard, perhaps?"

"... not unless Sans somehow learned to grow hair on his exposed bones", Undyne murmured. "Well, so much for that then... thank you for your aid, Sir."

"Oh! If you could spare me just another minute, M'lady?"

"What is it?"

"You could ask around in Pokute Palace. You see, the one who created Ambrosia, Princess Guu, is a Prime who has lived here in the Omniverse for many years now, and has many connections. She may be able to shed further light on the whereabouts of your friends."

Undyne's face lit back up and she smiled brightly. "Alright, that sounds better! Okay, we should head there then and-"

"M'lady, I am direly sorry to interrupt you, but... the Princess is currently absent. There are other matters that she must tend to. You will not be able to speak to her today."

"Ahh, damn... any idea when she's coming back?"

"It would be too much of me to say that I know the Princess's whereabouts, let alone her plans. You may obtain further information by asking at the palace."

"Got it." She climbed back into the saddle of her horse. "I'll see if anyone can tell me more... in the meantime I'll just have to find some place to work at."

"Just a moment..." Jeremy asked as he brought his horse around to look at the nutcracker. "One last question... uh, Sir. Is there..." He stopped speaking, visibly uneasy, but Undyne gave him a strong pat on the back and he blurted out: "Is there anyone here called Mettaton? Either a big rectangular robot or a human-shaped one, with a love for TV shows and for dancing?"

"We have a great many robots and cyborgs living in Ambrosia, Sir", the nutcracker replied. "But none of them are in show business."

"... thank god", Jeremy said with a relieved sigh. He leant back on his horse and Undyne laughed as the nutcracker patiently waited.

"That would be everything, but thank you very much for your help, Sir", Undyne said. "We should be on our way, and I don't want to take any more of your time."

"Oh, please! It has been a pleasure! I wish you the best of luck on your search, M'lady and Sir." With that he began walking away with his wooden legs moving in an elegant fashion.

"Well, that settles that", Undyne said as she spurred the horse on to a slow pace. "Let's ask around at this Pokute Palace next."